Water craft

ABSTRACT

A ski-type craft having an elongated streamlined hull body with a bow and a substantially flat stern, a pair of sponsons extending from the bow where the sponsons tend to blend in with the bow, backwards to about the middle of the craft where the sponsons extend outwards like wings, a rear seat having a water exhaust port extending therethrough at the rear of the hull, a foot rest and brace of triangular cross section extending across the center of the hull also having a water exhaust port extending therethrough, and a key hole which at the bow of the craft with a rope and knot retaining slot therein.

United States Patent 1191 Bristol 1451 Dec. 11, 1973 WATER CRAFT 21 App]. No.: 318,458

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 9/1961 Germany 9/310 R Switzerland 9/310 R 1/1964 France Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant ExaminerPaul E. Sauberer Attorney-George B. Oujevolk [57] ABSTRACT A ski-type craft having an elongated streamlined hull body with a bow and a substantially flat-stern, a pair of sponsons extending from the bow where the sponsons tend to blend in with the bow, backwards to about the middle of the craft where the sponsons extend outwards like wings, a rear seat having a water exhaust port extending therethrough at the rear of the hull, a foot rest and brace of triangular cross section extending across the center of the hull also having a water exhaust port extending therethrough, and a key hole which at the bow of the craft with a rope and knot retaining slot therein.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Y MENTEUUH: H m3 3.777.325

sum 2 BF 3 wmmnnrn mm 3,777,325

' swan 3n; 3

FIG. 6

WATERCRAFT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a single-ski water craft and more particularly to a single-ski water craft which is readily molded out of fiberglass or plastic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, the present invention contemplates a craft of the character described, having an elongated streamlined hull body with a bow and a substantially flat stern, a pair of sponsons extending from the bow, where the sponsons tend to blend in with the bow, backwards to about the middle of the craft where the sponsons extend outwards like wings, a rear seat having a water exhaust port therethrough at the rear of the hull, a foot rest and brace of triangular cross section extending therethrough, and a key hole hitch at the bow of the craft with a rope and know retaining slot therein.

The invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will become more apparent from the following detailed description whenconsidered with the accompanying drawing in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the type of craft contemplated herein;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the craft shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the craft shown in FIG. 2, along lines 33 of FIG. 2, but with a passenger in the craft;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the craft shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the craft shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 illustrates one of the components shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 depicts another component, used in the craft of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is still another component used in the craft of FIG. 2;and, FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view along-lines 9-9 of FIG. 8. v

, DETAILED DESCRIPTION I I Shown in the drawing is a craft 12 which operates both on snow and in water. The 'craft shown, although these dimensions are by no means critical, has an overall length of 72 inches, a width of 25 inches, and a heighth of 8 inches at the front. A larger craft, to seat two people, can also be readily made. The craft comprises four separate molded components: the hull l3 and sponsons 14; the rear seat 16; the center foot rest and brace 18; and the key hole hitch 20. All components are made of floatable, molded fiberglass. The hull 13 is of an elongated streamlined shape having an almost straight stem 22. Under the stem is a fixed rudder for balance. Extending forward from the stern 22 are side walls 24 which meet at the bow 26. The side walls 24 are curved outwardly. At the stern of the craft 9. The rear seat 16 in the craft shown is about 12 inches wide and extends forward about 12 inches from the stern. The configuration of the seat is important. It has an inwardly curved low-shape cross section with a seat section 28 for holding the passenger, and seat walls 30 (see FIG. 8) curved so as to conform to the side walls 24 of the craft. Extending longitudinally under the seat 7 22 is the rear seat 16, shown separately in FIGS. 8 and is a water exhaustport 32 defined by the configuration of the seat and the bottom 34 of the craft. At about mid-section of the craft is the foot rest and base 18. Again, this component is separately shown in FIG. 6. Foot rest and base 18 have a somewhat tent like configuration with ends 36, also shaped to conform to the craft side walls 24. There is again a water exhaust port 38 defined in the foot rest and base to allow water to be ejected from the craft. Thus, the foot rest and base have an inverted V-shaped configuration in cross section as best shown in FIG. 3.

From the mid-section forward are the sponsons 14. The sponsons 14 are to provide support in the horizontal plane to the craft and generally extend from the bow backwards and outwards very much like the wings of a jet plane.

The sponsons are of generally triangular configuration with a forward section 40 which blends into the hull and rear'wings 42 extending from the outer side of bow 44.

At the tip of the bow is the key hole hitch 20, also shown in FIG. 2 and 7. The view in FIG. 7 is a perspective view from the rear as seen by the passenger. The key hole hitch 20 has a flat rear wall 46, a flat top 48 and a key slot 50 for holding a rope having a knot at the end. There is a slight hitch 52 in the slot 50.

In order to give those skilled in the art a better understanding of the invention, the following illurstative explanation is given:

The craft is usually used inthe same manner as a water ski. The passenger is seated and the tow line, with knot, is in the key hole hitch. The towing craft starts up, and when it gathers speed, the passenger grabs on to the tow line and releases it from the key hole bitch with a slight pull rearward. Any water entering the craft is ejected through the water exhaust ports. When so desired, the passenger releases the tow line and the craft floats. In summary therefore, the usual construction materials used is laminated fiberglass by either mold or plug sprayed with gelcoat l5 milimeters thickness or laminated with four plys of fiberglass using a polyester resin, the foot support and under seat compartment is packed with styrofoam forfloatation. The overall thickness is in excess of Va inch. An important part of the design are the sponsons located in the front sections for lift and balance.

This craft allowsa person to enjoy water skiing in a sitting position, which is a much safer position for all ages. The craft has rounded edges as a safety factor and covered with a plastic molding on all edges. The floatation features incorporated in this craft enhances its safety factor. The floatation should support the weight of a 250 pound person in water.

The craft can be towed behind a boat by passing a knotted tow line into the keyhole. The tow line can be released from the key hole with a slight back pressure of the ski line and released from the bitch and then used in the same method as a regular tow rope on conventional water skies, hand held and hand towed.

I claim:

l. A craft of the character described, comprising'in combination:

' a. an elongated streamlined hull body having a bow and a substantially straight flat stern, a fixed rudder for balance under the stem, with outwardly curved side walls which meet at the bow, said walls providing floatation surface;

b. a pair of sponsons extending from the bow where tending across the center of the hull also having a the SPOIISO lend to blend with the bow, backwater exhaust port extending therethrough; and, wards to about the middle of the craft Where the e. a key hole hitch at the bow of the craft with a rope sponsons extend outwards like wings; and knot retaining Slot therein c. a molded plastic rear seat having a water exhaust 5 2 A ft 1 d l l h th f port extending therethrough at the rear of the hull i Ora as C alme m w Cram 8 rest curved to receive a passenger with curved Sides to and brace is tent shaped with inwardly curved sides to conform to the walls; conform to the wall. d. a foot rest and brace of triangular cross section ex- 

1. A craft of the character described, comprising in combination: a. an elongated streamlined hull body having a bow and a substantially straight flat stern, a fixed rudder for balance under the stern, with outwardly curved side walls which meet at the bow, said walls providing floatation surface; b. a pair of sponsons extending from the bow where the sponsons tend to blend in with the bow, backwards to about the middle of the craft where the sponsons extend outwards like wings; c. a molded plastic rear seat having a water exhaust port extending therethrough at the rear of the hull curved to receive a passenger, with curved sides to conform tO the walls; d. a foot rest and brace of triangular cross section extending across the center of the hull also having a water exhaust port extending therethrough; and, e. a key hole hitch at the bow of the craft with a rope and knot retaining slot therein.
 2. A craft as claimed in claim 1 wherein the foot rest and brace is tent shaped with inwardly curved sides to conform to the wall. 